Since 2016
About Us
Our history
The Cochise Family Advocacy Center
The Cochise Family Advocacy Center, known as Lori's Place is the sole family advocacy center in Cochise, Graham, and Greenlee Counties. Our vision is to be a resource facilitator for best practices in the fields of abuse treatment, investigation, and prosecution.
The Center was founded in 2016 by Lori Rutherford. With 35 years of nursing experience at a local hospital, Lori worked in various hospital units and eventually became an emergency room (ER) nurse. Throughout her career in the ER, she cared for numerous victims of abuse, rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence. At that time, none of the nurses had formal training in sexual assault examinations or evidence collection, making the ER an inadequate environment for assisting victims of violent crime. Many victims did not receive the necessary follow-up care needed to heal from their traumatic experiences. Recognizing this gap, Lori decided to make a change.
She became the first Certified Forensic Nurse and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner in Cochise County. Over the next decade, Lori trained ER nurses in evidence collection and dedicated much of her spare time to researching how to establish a Family Advocacy Center. In 2016, Lori's Place opened its doors as a non-profit, client-centered facility.
Since its inception, Lori's Place has provided essential services and support for abuse investigations involving the community’s most vulnerable populations. Professionals from law enforcement, child safety, healthcare (both mental and physical), and victim advocacy collaborate to assist victims of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Lori's Place serves approximately 200 new clients each year across Cochise, Graham, and Greenlee Counties, with plans to expand into Santa Cruz County. The dedicated staff at Lori's Place is its greatest asset, as they prioritize the needs of victims.
The multidisciplinary team is founded on mutual respect and a shared vision to eliminate child and adult abuse. The goal of Lori's Place is to serve as a facilitator of best practices in abuse treatment, investigation, and prosecution. Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre noted, "In 2022, 83 cases involving children were prosecuted and convicted, largely thanks to Lori's Place."
Sierra Vista Police Chief Chris Hiser commented, "Lori's Place has become a critical partner in our community for ensuring timely and thorough evidence collection while providing compassion and care for victims."
Meet our Team
Our Board of Directors
Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford is the President of Rutherford Diversified Industries, Inc., a General Engineering Contractor currently engaged in fiber optic and outside plant construction in seven western states. Mike is also a partner in Groth, Rutherford & Scott, LLC, which has several office buildings in Sierra Vista. In 2015, he built the Cochise Family Advocacy Center Lori's Place in Sierra Vista. He is the Past President of the Southeastern Arizona Contractors Association and is currently Treasurer. He is also the President of the Arizona Folklore Preserve Board of Directors, located in Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, which provides live music 40+ weekends a year.
In 2009, The American Business Defense and Advisory Council, by Newt Gingrich, awarded Mike the Entrepreneur of the Year award for the State of Arizona.
In 2015, The Arizona Hall of Fame Society awarded Mike the Copper Eagle Award for "outstanding patriotism and a unique combination of leadership and compassion whose actions warrant high recognition for services rendered to the Arizona veteran's community."
His company built the Historical Soldier Relocation Project. This is a "period" cemetery within the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery where victims of the Civil War battle at Picacho Peak, Arizona, are interred.
In 2019, his company built the Gold Star Mothers monument in the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista.
Loraine Rutherford
Loraine "Lori" Rutherford is the founder and current acting secretary for Cochise Family Advocacy Center, which was founded in 2015. Lori is a Registered Nurse, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for Adults, Adolescents, and Children. She is also a Certified Nurse Coder/Auditor. She was employed at Sierra Vista Community Hospital for over 35 years, working in almost every capacity, including nursing supervisory responsibilities for the hospital after regular work hours.
As a nurse in the Emergency Department, Lori identified the need for a better way to care for and treat victims of violent crime away from the hospital. She and her husband, Mike, bought the current home of Lori's Place. After much sweat and tears, the doors opened to serve our community in 2016. We work closely with law enforcement to provide the best care in the crisis and provide follow-up advocacy and counseling free of charge for our victims.
Lori has been a resident of Sierra Vista since 1976, when she and Mike came here for their work and decided to stay put and raise their 2 children here. Lori is active with 1200 Club, Veritas Christian Community School, and The Arizona Folklore Preserve and attends Calvary Chapel. She and Mike have been married for 56 years and love Sierra Vista.
Dr. Randall H. Groth
Dr. Groth owns Groth Development Services, a real estate development company, and Economic Technologies, a real estate holding company. He is also Co-Owner of Groth Rutherford Properties, an investment firm owning Commercial Office Parks, Ranching, and Aerospace Engineering.
Dr. Groth formerly served as the Chief Executive Officer of a Defense Contracting Company, Associate Vice President at the University of Arizona, and Founding Dean at the University of Arizona South. He served as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Arizona under three Presidents and seven Secretaries. Dr. Groth taught Accounting, Business, and Economics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and is published; he and his wife, Jan, have two children.
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1990
Master of Arts, University of Northern Colorado, 1981 Bachelor of Science, Missouri State University, 1974 MILITARY SERVICE:
1975 - 1977 Officer, U.S. Army Signal Corps 1977-1981 U.S. Army Reserves.
Kim Youngblood
Kim Youngblood is a Software Engineer that has been employed on Ft. Huachuca since 1989. She is currently working as a Division Technical Advisor for the Joint Interoperability Test Command. She is married to Pastor Randy Youngblood and has served alongside him in Ministry at Thunder Mountain Church (TMC) since 1989. She has served in a variety of ministries to include Children's Ministry, Home Groups and Women's Ministry. Her current ministry focus at TMC is with Guest Services and Hospitality. Her hobbies include hiking, exercising and travel. She and Randy have two grown married daughters and 4 precious Grandchildren that Kim loves to spoil.
Trevor Umphress
Trevor Umphress is a native of Yuma, Arizona, where he resides with his wife and their four children. He studied International Business and minored in Spanish at Northern Arizona University. His career began in the corporate world of construction and restorations; after seven years of success as a project manager and estimator, he put away his hard-hat to begin a new quest into the nonprofit world.
Trevor partnered with Amberly’s Place, a family advocacy center, to assist the organization with financial sustainability. When that dream was achieved, Trevor was excited for a new journey as the executive director of the Arizona Child & Family Advocacy Network. In this role, Trevor’s accomplishments have included getting defining legislation passed, and the creation of a fund that supports all family advocacy centers throughout the state.
It brings Trevor great joy to know he plays an active role in the thousands of lives that begin their journey from victim to survivor. “I believe that protecting children is everybody’s business,” he says. “I invite you to take a stand against abuse and be a voice for those in need. Together we can stop the cycle; together we can end abuse.”
Join Our Team!
Join our team or explore numerous volunteer opportunities at Cochise Family Advocacy Center Lori's Place. Your help can take various forms, including direct and indirect services. Regardless of your role, your help will be invaluable in our efforts for victim advocacy, crisis response, and abuse treatment. Join us today as we work together to provide the support victims need.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner:
Join our team as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)! We seek a compassionate and skilled nurse to provide comprehensive care to survivors of sexual assault. Your role will involve conducting forensic examinations, collecting evidence, and offering emotional support to patients. Collaboration with law enforcement and advocacy services is essential. If you have experience in nursing and forensic examination and are dedicated to supporting survivors, please send your resume and cover letter to admin@lorisplaceaz.org. Together, we can provide critical care and support to those in need.
*Certification preferred; however, Lori’s Place can provide necessary training.
*RN acceptable with a minimum of 2 years of experience.
Volunteer With Us
At Cochise Family Advocacy Center Lori's Place, we are dedicated to providing an empathetic and supportive environment that promotes the well-being of both child and adult victims. Our comprehensive range of services is aimed at ensuring a nurturing and neutral environment for victims. However, we cannot reach our goals without your valuable involvement. By volunteering, you play a significant role in enhancing our mission. Your compassion, dedication, and engagement contribute to creating a positive impact on the lives of victims and their families. We invite you to join us on this journey to justice, healing, and safety. Please download and complete the volunteer application, then email it to
volunteer@lorisplaceaz.org.
- Outdoor maintenance
- General cleaning and sanitizing
- Organizing donations and the Brave Room
- Administrative supports
- Case updates and follow-ups
- Participating in promotions, fundraising events, community outreach programs, and other special events
Cochise Family Advocacy Center Lori's Place is committed to transparency and accountability.
We want to inform you that our required tax documents and detailed information about our organization are available upon request.
If you would like to access these documents, please contact us at
520-515-4444 or
admin@lorisplaceaz.org. We are happy to provide any information you may need.
Thank you for your interest in Cochise Family Advocacy Center Lori's Place.